Two Middle School ELA Teachers

Want to start the school year strong with a classroom full of motivated, respectful, and engaged middle schoolers? In this episode of Two Middle School ELA Teachers, we dive into one of the most important (yet often overlooked) ingredients for classroom success: classroom climate.

Prime Day is here, and we’re sharing some of our favorite classroom tools, organizational must-haves, and a few fun teacher splurges that make the school year smoother. In this episode, we’re walking you through our top Amazon picks—things we use (and love!) in our middle school ELA classrooms to stay calm, collected, and ready to teach.

From color-coded folders and dry erase boards to our dream ice maker ...

In this episode, we’re talking about the three systems every middle school ELA teacher should have in place before school starts — systems that save time, reduce stress, and actually work all year long!  

Plus, we’ll show you how to grab everything we mention (and then some!) inside the ...

In today’s episode, I’m sharing how I’m spending my summer—and it’s not just about relaxing! From reading a powerful book to exploring creative outlets, I’m discovering some exciting ways to bring new ideas into my world, and I want to share how you can do this too! Plus, I’ve got a special offer for those of you looking to make a move this summer. Tune in to hear how you can start building something incredible and why now is the p...

2 End-of-Year ELA Activities Your Students Will Actually Enjoy

It’s May, the end of the school year, and we all know what that means – restless students, tired teachers, and a countdown to summer break. But before you toss your gradebook in the air and head for the beach, I’ve got two creative, low-prep ELA activities that will keep your student...

In this episode of Two Middle School ELA Teachers by ELA Core Plans, Shannon shares effective strategies for keeping middle school students engaged and motivated during the end-of-year slump, especially in April and May. With state testing approaching, it can be challenging to maintain focus, but Shannon offers practical tips to help. Listen for fresh ideas on how to keep your students energized, o...

In this episode of Two Middle School ELA Teachers by ELA Core Plans, Shannon shares a fun and competitive review game called "Sink or Swim" that’s perfect for engaging middle school students in ELA practice. Learn how to use this game to review important concepts like comma rules, test prep, and more. Shannon also shares a helpful hack for finding released test questions to help your students prep...

Test prep season is here, and middle school ELA teachers know the struggle—students zoning out while reading passage after passage. In this episode, we’re sharing high-impact comprehension strategies that actually work! We’ll talk about five strategies that that work for fiction and nonfiction  to help students stay engaged, monitor their understanding,...

Grading essays can be overwhelming, especially with a large class. In this episode, I share how I used ChatGPT to provide detailed, consistent, and unbiased feedback on my middle school students' writing. I’ll walk you through the exact process I used, how it saved me hour...

In this episode of Two Middle School ELA Teachers, Shannon takes you through an engaging, hands-on activity called "The Great Nonfiction Scavenger Hunt"—perfect for introducing nonfiction to your middle school students. Say goodbye to zoning out during note-taking and hello to interactive stations that keep students moving, thinking, and learning. Shannon shares how she sets up six stations focused on key nonfiction concepts like t...

Episode Description:
Get your students up and moving with this fun and engaging ELA activity! In this episode, we’re diving into the Context Clue Walk About, where students work in pairs to decipher word meanings using context clues in a hands-on, interactive way. Learn how to set it up, teach context clue strategies with the LEAD acronym, and choose the perfect words for your middle schoolers. Plus, we’ll share tips for keeping st...

What makes a teacher truly unforgettable? In this episode of Two Middle School ELA Teachers by ELA Core Plans, we explore the elusive “It Factor” that sets exceptional teachers apart. These are the educators who connect effortlessly with students, make learning engaging, and leave a lasting impact on young lives.

Join us as we break down the key qualities that define the “It Factor". We’ll share stories, insights, and practical tip...

In this episode of Two Middle School ELA Teachers by ELA Core Plans, we’re diving into the art of argumentative writing with “A Clever Lesson for Argumentative Writing.” We’ll explore an engaging lesson plan that helps middle schoolers master the essentials of crafting strong arguments.

 From brainstorming and prewriting to gathering evidence and structuring a well-organized essay, we cover strategies to make argumentative writing ...

Join us, two middle school ELA teachers from ELA Core Plans, as we discuss our favorite time of the year in the middle school ELA classroom – October! In this episode, we share our excitement for spooky stories and how we plan to engage our students during this season. We highlight the classic tales that we have lined up for the month of October. 

Halloween Stories for Middle School ELA:

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In this October episode, we are bringing you some spook-tacular writing activities that will engage your students while building key skills in narrative and persuasive writing.

First, we dive into a Halloween-themed writing activity where students get creative by designing their own costumes, writing vivid descriptions, and crafting persuasive ads using ethos, logos, and pathos. This lesson is the perfect blend of creativity and st...

Welcome to the Two Middle School ELA Teachers podcast by ELA Core Plans! In this episode, we’re diving into a simple yet transformative strategy that could revolutionize your classroom—retesting with a twist. As middle school ELA teachers, we know how disheartening it can be when students close their Chromebooks after a test without a second thought. But what if there was a way to turn that test into a powerful learning experience?

Discover a dynamic and engaging way to manage your ELA classroom with our latest episode! We dive into the innovative concept of classroom economies, where students become savvy financial managers, earning and spending classroom currency. Learn how this system can transform behavior management and foster real-world skills in responsibility, financial literacy, and teamwork. Tune in for practical tips, job ideas, and ready-to-use ha...

Welcome to Two Middle School ELA Teachers, the podcast where we unravel the complexities of English Language Arts. Join us as we explore innovative strategies, like incorporating writing prompts before reading assignments, to help students master new standards and excel in state assessments. This season, discover how our UQO method—Underline, Question, and Original Thinking—empowers students to think critically and connect reading ...